Plymouth Achievements

When I was first elected in 1997 the legacy left to Plymouth by my Conservative predecessor included three of the poorest council wards in the entire country—including the very poorest.

Over the past twelve years, Plymouth has begun to change beyond recognition. Our City Centre has come on in leaps and bounds with the redevelopment of Drake Circus and the skyline is changing as new buildings rise. I have campaigned for Plymouth to have the recognition and support from government which it so strongly deserves. Some of the highlights include:

The first new medical school in the country for 25 years and the first new dental school in 50 years.
£49 million of money from the New Deal for Communities Programme to regenerate Devonport, bringing down the hated wall.
Successfully campaigning for HMS Scylla to become an artificial reef—bringing over £25 million to Plymouth’s marine economy since 2004.
Bringing forward by five years £78 million of Government investment in Plymouth’s schools which will enable the partial or whole rebuilding of Tamarside, Lipson, Stoke Damerel and John Kitto plus enhanced ICT at Sir John Hunt.
Increased Government funding for our University—including £425,000 for the University to help small businesses through the economic downturn.

These changes to the physical fabric of our City have been matched by equally significant important improvements for people and communities which this leaflet outlines. I am very proud to live in Plymouth and prouder still to represent Plymouth in Parliament. I am as eager and ambitious for our City now as I was when first elected and I wake up every morning determined to do more. The work goes on.

Health

Since 1997, and the election of a Labour government, NHS waiting lists are at the lowest levels since records began.
Labour have also honoured their manifesto pledges to increase the numbers of nurses and doctors and build new healthcare facilities.
98.8% of patients now wait less than 13 weeks for their first outpatient appointment at Derriford Hospital—in 1997 it could take as long as 1-2 years and sometimes even longer.
In addition, 99.9% of patients wait less than 6 months for surgery, with the average treatment time being within eight weeks in Plymouth.
In the South West, the number of people waiting over 13 weeks for out-patient treatment has gone down by nearly 100% since 2002 (from 21,740 to 10 in March 2006)
Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust expenditure has increased from £130,406,000 in 1997/8 to £290,261,000 in 2006
The Trust have doubled the numbers of consultants from 125 to 259.
Moreover, in March 2000 the trust employed 2,452 nurses and midwives. By March 2006 this number had increased to 2,908
The £39million Plateau Project at Derriford Hospital has also created a new expanded Cardiothoracic Centre increasing the number of heart operations from 1,100 to 1,850 a year.
Everyone in Plymouth Sutton is now able to see a GP within two working days.

Jobs

More support for young people getting into work—including apprenticeships.
All workers over the age of 22, now benefit from a national minimum wage of £5.73 per hour—before I was elected I can remember seeing jobs advertised for £1 per hour.
Labour have introduced the right to 28 days of paid leave per year.

Education

There are now no infants in class sizes of more than 30 in Plymouth Sutton.
An extra 1,545 three and four year olds have taken up free early years education places since Labour were elected.
Since 1997, there are also an extra 100 teachers and 190 teaching assistants in Plymouth Sutton.
An extra 17% of 11 year olds now achieve the required levels of literacy and numeracy.
There has been a 22.6% increase in the number of 15 year olds achieving 5 or more A*-C grades in the constituency.
Plymouth now has an extra five specialist schools and there has been record investment in school facilities throughout the local authority. Plymouth was the first city in the country to achieve specialist status for all its schools.
3,710 people from Plymouth Sutton enrolled in higher education in 2007/2008—a 54.3% increase since 1997.
Average funding per pupil has risen from £2,080 in 1998 to £4,170 in 2009.

Pensioners

The Labour government have shown their commitment to restoring the link between pensions and earnings.
Pension Credit guarantees every single pensioner £109.45 a week and £167.05 for couples. Before 1997, many pensioners in Plymouth had to live on just £69 per week. Now 13,050 households benefit from extra money.
34,840 also benefit from Winter Fuel Payments (tax free £200).
6,600 over 75s benefit from free TV licences in Plymouth
36,419 pensioners and disabled people in Plymouth have received free off-peak bus passes.
29,696 free eye tests were given to pensioners aged 60 and over in Plymouth during 2007/8.

Families and Children

24,800 families in Plymouth have seen a 25% increase in their Child Benefit payments and many also benefit from Tax Credits.
The incomes of the poorest families in Plymouth have gone up by an average £3,200 since 1997.
Now every child is entitled to one of the free part time nursery education places available in Plymouth.
Child Trust Funds deliver £250 to every baby and £500 for the babies of low income families— with 4,341 accounts opened in Plymouth Sutton. alone.
For the first time ever, fathers have the right to two weeks paid paternity leave.